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Wheelbase North of England Championships

Sunday, December 5th, 2010 | Report & Photos Larry Hickmott
Lake District Visitor Centre | Windermere |
Photo Slideshows: | |  | |

Paul Oldham (Men) and Victoria Wilkinson (Women) were crowned North of England Cyclo-Cross champions on a snow covered course on the shores of Windermere. Despite heavy snowfalls in the area, and temperatures of minus nine as riders arrived at the course, the roads to the event were clear of snow and ice and the course was well prepared by the organiser Paul Loftus and his team.

Video of the Youth race

Photo Album & Slideshow

The day began early for the team of people behind the event with tractors and gritters out in the car park at the Lake District Visitor Centre to ensure competitors and spectators had some where to park. Once the snowed was cleared from the parking area, an influx of almost 200 hundred riders descended on the stunning setting for a bike race with the Youth riders off first. Their race was followed by the Junior/Women and Veterans race before the Senior event capped off a great day in the Lake District.

The location for the championships, Windermere (Lake District), was quite stunning especially with the snow covered mountains in the background.

Oldham cruises to victory
With the mist that had descended on the lake now lifting from where it had sat hiding the riders on the start line, the star studded field got off to a cracking start. Getting the best of it over the thick snowed covered track that took the riders from the start line drawn in the snow and up a hill, before descending to the finish area was Pete Middlehurst of Cycle Premier – Metaltek. Pre-race favourite, Rob Jebb was next and already well into his stride.

Not getting a good start was Paul Oldham but just as Jebb claimed the lead off  Middlehurst, so Oldham started to make up the ground he had lost at the start with a mechanical. Whilst Jebb, riding for the race sponsor Wheelbase, was opening up a gap on his challengers, Oldham was soon in second place and chasing down Jebb.

Paul Oldham.

This he did quickly and no sooner had he caught Jebb, Oldham soon showed why he is one of the best cyclo-cross riders in the country as he started to open up the gap and dominate the event. The trouble at the start was the end of his race problems and Oldham cruised round the rather lumpy snow and ice covered course, never once looking in danger of being caught.

Sure enough, the Hope Racing rider took the victory, not daring to lift his hands from the bars on the very rutted finishing straight which caused many a rider problems during the day. Afterwards, British Cycling caught up with Paul Oldham who was quickly sticking the layers on to keep warm and he said “I’m good with that victory. I enjoyed that. It was a bit different. I heard last year it was a mud bath here and I enjoyed this a lot more than I would have that.”

Asked what the snow and ice brought to a circuit like the one on the shores of Windermere, he replied “we’re just not used to it. I haven’t ridden on snow and ice since last February (cyclo-cross worlds). I made a bit of a mess of the start. I got involved in a bit of a tangle and the chain came off and one thing and another but I pulled myself back up to the front and enjoyed the race.”

Early leader in the senior race was Peter Middleburst but Rob Jebb soon had the pace of the race and took the lead before he too had to relenquish it to Paul Oldham.

“With all this snow, it’s hard to really know what this course is like. Even with the snow, there was only one bit of running really and the hardest thing was getting your feet back in after it.” Describing his form with another National Trophy round the corner, he explained “I feel a bit tired at the minute. I think I need to get my head down with some training and resting. Life has been a bit busy recently.”

Rob Jebb “I got a good start, I enjoyed that, a running start in the snow which suited me. It was a real good course. I think it would be a good one without the snow but it was a fantastic one today. Really challenging and tricky and showed Paul’s excellent bike handling skills.”

“I think today, despite the snow, the only running there I had was what you’d have on a dry day. Just the banking from the stream and the little banking. So there weren’t much running and it was hard to run in the snow anyway.” Asked, did he feel any pressure because his sponsors were the event sponsors, Rob replied “no. I do it for myself this sport, it’s hard enough as it is. What is good is that Wheelbase are real good sponsors who put a lot into the sport.”

With the ice melting above the camera, Rob Jebb does what he does best and that  is to run because its quicker than riding...

“This looks really professional what they have done here today and I think they have done a fantastic job. I think it would be good for a National Trophy or Championships to come here. I think the courses around the country right now are a bit samy, fast and flat, not that technical.”

“Here, without the snow, there are good tarmac stretches, downhill, uphill, woods and so on; I think it would be a brilliant location.” And Rob’s favourite section? “Probably the snowy bit that wasn’t too bad. I struggled through the pits and another bit where there was ice under the snow and I found that difficult but I really enjoyed it!”

Photos -- Many more will be added to this report tomorrow afternoon.

The organisation worked really hard to make sure the event went ahead with tractors and gritters out to give the riders some where to park their cars after travelling from all over the north of England.

The hurdles were only 50 metres from the finish line but were not used ont he final lap in a  few of the races.

The Juniors and Women are set off first in the third race of the day and on the thick snow, its quicker to run than ride.

Thomas Armstrong gives the race sponsors a victory in the Junior event.

Victoria Wilkinson rides to victory in the Women's race.

Noel Clough gives the event sponsor another victory with this win the over 40's race. Chris Young, in the background, seems pretty pleased with it too!

RESULTS (courtesy of taptiming)

Note: Results are Provisional

Youth
1 Jake Womersley Sowerby Brothers 3 00:24:47.8
2 Billy Harding Paul Milnes Bradford O RC 3 00:24:49.6
3 Chris Lawless Maxgear R T 3 00:25:04.3
4 Mike Thompson Richardsons C C 3 00:25:20.5
5 Edwyn Oliver Evans East Bradford CC 3 00:27:01.0
6 Sebastian Marsh Paul Milnes Bradford Olympic 3 00:28:31.6
7 Ben Pygott Pedalsport C C 3 00:29:13.3
8 Christian Braybrooke Sportcity Velo 3 00:29:19.7
9 Samuel Roper BCPM 3 00:29:25.2
10 James Edmond Ferryhill Wheelers MH RT 3 00:30:08.3
11 Joe Dransfield Wakefield Jn Tri 3 00:30:31.6
12 Ashley Clitheroe Red Rose Olympic 3 00:30:34.4
13 Andrew Nixon Red Rose Olympic 3 00:30:44.7
14 Zoe Armstrong Bill Nickson Cycles RT 3 00:30:54.6
15 Robert Armstrong Bill Nickson Cycles RT 3 00:31:47.0
16 Oliver Payton Cycle Sport Pendle 3 00:31:55.6
17 Alexander Braybrooke Sportcity Velo 3 00:33:11.2
18 Christopher Barnes Seacroft Wheelers 3 00:33:34.1
19 Adam Hartley Eastlands Velo 3 00:33:36.9
20 Matthew Walls Eastlands Velo 3 00:34:13.0
21 Jessica Wilkinson Birkrnhead Northend CC 3 00:34:18.9
22 Amira Mellor Holme Valley Wheelers 3 00:36:48.8
23 Joe Westwood Red Rose Olympic 2 00:25:44.8
24 Emma Brady MTS Inkland Sport 2 00:25:54.2
25 Ben Dransfield Wakefield Jn Tri 2 00:29:52.7
26 Joseph Parker Crosstrack 2 00:30:00.9

Under 12
1 Thomas Mein MTS Cyclesport 4 00:12:07.5
2 George Taylor  4 00:14:01.4
3 Mark Donovan Border City 4 00:14:05.2
4 Nathan Hawthorn Cyclesport Pendle 4 00:14:09.7
5 Joe Armstrong Border City Wheelers 4 00:14:13.2
6 Lewis Hartley Eastlands Velo 4 00:15:05.4
7 Kim Baptista Eastlands Velo 4 00:15:12.0
8 Matthew Braybrooke Eastlands Velo 4 00:15:41.2
9 Jacob Feetham Wakefield Tri 3 00:12:32.3
10 Jenson Young Pedalsport 3 00:13:19.6
11 Matthew Egglestone Border City Wheelers 3 00:13:25.4
12 Tyla Loftus Cogset 3 00:14:23.6
13 Anna Armstrong Border City 3 00:14:26.7
14 Matthew Baptista Eastlands Velo 3 00:14:33.6
15 Adam Nelson  3 00:15:00.7
16 Simeon Young Pedalsport 3 00:16:05.0
17 Marcus Hiley Pedalsport 3 00:17:03.7
18 Matthew Turner Cycle Sport Pendle 2 00:09:52.7
19 Chloe Loftus Cogset 2 00:13:58.6
20 Tom Martin Future Furness Flyers 1 00:05:40.3

Junior
1 Thomas Armstrong Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 6 00:40:56.1
2 Jack Clarkson Pedalsport CC 6 00:41:01.8
3 Edward McParland J D Cycles Ilkley 6 00:42:40.9
4 Jack Humphreys Wheelbase- Cannondale 6 00:44:23.9
5 Nicholas Barnes Zepat Racing Team 6 00:46:31.2

Junior - Women
1 Becky Preece Red Rose Olympic 5 00:47:19.9
2 Eve Dixon Cog Set 3 00:41:39.3

Senior - Women
1 Victoria Wilkinson BC PM 5 00:41:57.5
2 Nikola Butler Pedalsport CC 5 00:49:25.5

Veteran 40 plus
1 Noel Clough Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 6 00:42:20.7
2 Dan Cook Planet X 6 00:42:33.0
3 Peter Middleton Zepat Racing Team 6 00:43:58.9
4 Jonathan Watson Charge Bikes 6 00:44:53.3
5 Dave Haygarth Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 6 00:44:57.2
6 Julian Hodgson Pedalsport CC 6 00:45:40.8
7 Stephen Barnes Zepat Racing Team 6 00:46:29.3
8 John Mein Derwentside CC 6 00:47:32.1
9 Mick Style Manchester Wheelers 6 00:47:59.7
10 Mike Young Pedalsport C C 5 00:41:14.6
11 Dean Smith St HelensCRC 5 00:41:26.0
12 Keith Ashbridge Velo Club Cumbria 5 00:41:33.7
13 Richard Allen Here Come the Belgians 5 00:41:35.2
14 Chris Young Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 5 00:42:22.0
15 Sean Beswick Buxton CC 5 00:42:57.0
16 David Jennaway York 5 00:45:02.0
17 Timothy Evans East Bradford CC 5 00:45:11.9
18 Ian Chapman Moonglu RT 5 00:45:16.8
19 Sean Hoban VC Cumbria 5 00:45:19.9
20 Carl Nelson Rossendale 5 00:45:29.3
21 Kevin Hoban Honister 92 5 00:45:38.5
22 Ian Kendal Liverpool Century RC 5 00:47:10.2
23 Adrian Nelhams BC PM 5 00:47:12.0
24 Graham Theobald BCPM 5 00:47:16.4
25 Graham Piccavey Huddersfield 5 00:49:06.5
26 Mark Turner Here Come the Belgians 5 00:49:51.4
27 Clive Wilkinson Birkrnhead Northend CC 4 00:41:52.8
28 Jamie Brady Tyne & Wear Fire Service 4 00:42:12.7
29 Ed Cooper Tyne & Wear Fire Service 4 00:46:17.5
30 Ian Vatter Cockermouth 4 00:51:51.6

Veteran 50+
1 Pete Wilkin Fietsen Tempo/ Chapters 6 00:48:18.9
2 Clifford Featherstone MTS Iwilland 5 00:43:08.9
3 Duncan Stewart Keswickbike.co.uk 5 00:43:12.7
4 Ray Pugh Liverpool Mercury ( Dolan ) 5 00:45:01.5
5 Mick Speirs Horwich CC 5 00:45:10.4
6 Simon Cunningham Manchester Wheelers 5 00:45:33.6
7 Graham Kennerley Lancaster C C 5 00:46:52.5
8 Paul Andrews Lancaster CC 5 00:47:14.6
9 Garry Marsh Seacroft Wheelers 4 00:50:58.7
10 Christopher Parker East Bradford CC 3 00:41:55.1

Veteran 60+
1 John Ginley Condor RC 5 00:46:07.2
2 Eric Taylor Horwich CC 4 00:42:36.3
3 Dave Norton Derwent Valley CC 4 00:44:07.5
4 Alan Shuttleworth Altringcham Road Club 4 00:48:03.5

Senior
1 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing 10 01:01:07.5
2 Rob Jebb Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 10 01:02:26.8
3 Steve Ward MTS Cyclesport 10 01:04:08.6
4 Pete Middlehurst Cycle Premier - Metaltek 10 01:04:56.9
5 Robert Watson Paul Milnes Bradford Olympic 10 01:05:34.8
6 Tim Baldwin Paul Milnes Bradford Olympic 10 01:06:14.6
7 Tony Fawcett Black Hawk Bikes.com 10 01:06:24.2
8 James Thompson Boneshakersbikes.com/Trek 10 01:06:34.9
9 Lewis Craven Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 10 01:06:45.1
10 Keith Murray Hope Factory Racing 10 01:07:46.7
11 Malcolm Lewis MTS Cyclesport 9 01:01:39.5
12 Paul Bethell Team Elite-P Bethell Electrical 9 01:01:47.3
13 Paul Young Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 9 01:03:13.1
14 Giles Drake Colnago-Microshift-Skins 9 01:03:45.8
15 Stuart Reid Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 9 01:04:30.9
16 Anthony Morris Evans Cycles RT 9 01:04:43.5
17 Martin Woffindin Sportcity Velo 9 01:05:42.8
18 David Crawley Velo Club Moulin 9 01:05:47.4
19 Johnathan Limebear Batley CC Hargreave Cycles 9 01:06:36.8
20 Tom Stockill Malton Wheelers 8 01:03:18.5
21 Niall Paterson Individual Member 8 01:03:43.3
22 Jerrod Hartley Team Wallis 8 01:04:21.6
23 Luke Beswick Buxton CC 8 01:07:18.6
24 Matthew Hoyle Wheelbase.co.uk Cannondale 7 01:05:52.4
25 Mike Tomes Individual Member 7 01:06:33.7
26 Nicolas Bertrand Lune R C C 6 01:07:48.7